The Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) has recommended taking legal action including revoking of route permits of 165 buses for charging extra fare.
According to BRTA sources, these 165 buses are operating in the capital under 25 companies. Recommendations have already been sent to the Regional Transport Committee (RTC) to take legal action including revoke route permits of these buses.
On condition not to be named, a BRTA official said, “Earlier we have given punishment at different levels but never revoked route permits of buses. But now we are looking forward to taking such a step which would remain as an example for law breakers.”
“At first the leaders of the bus owners’ organization said that they would take action against the injustice, but now they are saying something else,” added the official.
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Organizing secretary of the Dhaka Road Transport Owners’ Association Humayun Kabir Tapan said, “An owner has one or two buses, they are already burning with various troubles. Cancelling their route permit will add another burden to them. We will take a decision in this regard by holding a meeting in the owners association.”
However, passengers claim that the buses are charging higher fare than the government fixed fare. In the meantime, students have been protesting on the streets since November 11 demanding half bus fare. The students started a movement demanding 11 points including a safe road which is still going on.
According to the BRTA information, Basumati has broken rules 16 times, Raida 13 times and Paristan 11 times by collecting extra fare from the passengers. Similarly, MM Lavly and Anabil have broken the rules 10 times. Besides Alif, Labbaik, Turag, Balaka, Shadhin, Projapati, Rajanigandha, Shikar, Akas, Ajmeri, Manjil, Provati, Banasree, Asmani, Procesta, Victor, Midline, D Link, Rajdhani, Gulisthan- Gazipur Paribahan, VIP bus has also broken the rules at different times.
